Signal-light for vessels



(No Model.)

-J. W. GOULSTON SIGNAL LIGHTFOR vBssELs.

Patente Jan.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrricE.

JOSEPH IVARREN OOULSTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL-LIGHT FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,880, dated January 8, 1889.

Application iled October l, 1888. Serial No. 286,852. (No model.)

' lication.

My invention consists-ot certain improvements in signal-lights for vessels, the invention being based upon that set forth in the patents granted to George T. Parry respectively on the 25th day ot December, 1883, No. 290,918, and on the 13th day of October, 1885, No. 328,059; and the object of my present improvements is to provide a vessel with signal-lights so arranged as to warn and direct an approaching' vessel more effectively than before. This object I attain by the use of a supplementary white light or lights visible only from dead astern and from a limited range to port or starboard of dead astern, in combination with the ordinary colored port or starboard lights or with said lights and the colored supplementary side or range lights forming the subject of said George T. Parrys patents above alluded to. e

In the accompanying drawings, Figure v1 is a diagram illustratin one method ot' carrying out my invention; and Figs. 2 and are diagrams of signal-lanterns, illustratin other and simpler ways ot carrying out my invention.

The invention of the said George T. Parry consisted mainly in the use, in connection with the ordinary colored port and starboard lights, P and S, of a vessel, of supplementary colored port and starboard lights such as in Fig. 1 are represented by the letters P and S, respectively-these supplementary side lights being screened t'roin observation from dead ahead or from a point or more on either the port or starboard bow, while the stern range of the supplementary side lights was generally the same that of the ordinary side lights--that is to say, to a point or two abaft the beam-so that the relation of the supplementary colored port or starboard side light to the usual colored port or starboard light indicated the course of the vessel carrying the same to another vessel approaching it. These side lights, however, did not serve to warn or direct a vessel approaching from dead astern, or from a number of points to either port or starboard of dead astern up to one or two points abattthe beam, and with the view of overcoming this defect I provide one or more white warning er object lights, whiehwill serve to cover those points of the compass not hitherto lighted. For instance, the white warning-light may be visible from dead astern and from a number of points to either port or starboard of dead astern, the forward range of said white warning or object lights extending, it desired, as far as the att range ot the coloredA side lights, so that the three sets of lights will serve to warn or direct a vessel approaching from any point of the compass. Thus to a vessel approaching from dead ahead the usual colored port and starboard lights would be visible, while to a vessel approaching on either bow in a range anywhere from a point or two from dead ahead to a point or two abaft the beam the usual colored side light and the first supplementary colored side light would be visible, the course of the vessel carrying the lights being thus indicated to such approaching vessel and the course of the latterbeing governed accordingly, while to a vessel approaching from dead astern or from anywhere att of the range of the colored side lights the `white warning or object signal would be visible, and the necessary change inthe course of the approaching vessel would open up the colored side lights, and thus inform such approaching vessel ot the position and course et' the vessel ahead.

In the diagram Fig. 1 I have shown one way of carrying out my invention in connection with lights arranged as in accordance with the Parry patents, the ordinary colored port and starboard lights being in this case placed in the forward rigging, the suppleinentary colored side lights, P S', in the main rigging, and the white object or warning lights P2 S2 in the mizzen rigging; but in order to dispense with the two extra lanterns and lantern-boxes which this would necessitate I prefer, in applying my invention to the Parry system, to provide one lantern-box with both the colored supplementary side light and the white warning or object light, as shown in Fig. 2, so that one lantern will serve for IOO both, the lantern-Casin bein preferably provided with adjustable screens o and l), so that the at't rangeot the colored light I or S and the forward range ot' the white light P2 or S2 can be regulated as desired, tor in seine eases it may not be advisable to light all the points oi' the eoniliass-that is to say, the Aforward range ot' the white wzirning or object lights l2 S2 may not extend to the att range ot the eolored side lights, P S', so that there will be no likelihood ot' these two lights blendin to view troni a vessel approaehin g, say, t'roni two points aba'lt the beain.

The white warning or objeet lights ina)v be used in eonneetion with the mdinary eolored side lights, iii desired, when the use of the supplelnentary colored side lights is not eonsidered neeessary-an instanee ot' a compound lantern ior this purpose being shown in 'Fig'. I-and, il' desired, a single white warning or objeet light at the stern nia)Y be used instead oll having one on eaeh side, said single light being properly shielded, so that Vits rango will not eause blemlingor eonlnsion ot the white warning or objet-t light with the eolored side lights.

l'l'avingihus deseribed nl v invention, l elaiin and desire to seeure b v Letters Patent l. The eoinlnnatiml, in signal-lights for vessels, of eolored port and starboard li ghts,with a white warning or object light visible t'roin dead astern and l'roln a 'nuniber of points to port or starbmlrd or' dead astern, but shielded l'roin 'view Iroin a point within the range ol:l the said Aport and starboard lights, all subst antiallv as speeitied.

L. '.lhe eoinbination, in signal-lights for ves sels, oi eolored port and starlmard lights, with white supplementary side lights eonslitnting Warning or objeet lights visible frein dead astern and troni a nunlber ot' points to port or starbfmrd oi' dead astern, but shielded l`ron1 view lroin all points within the range ot the colored port and starboard lights, all substantially as speeiiied.

3. rlhe Combination, in signaldights for vessels, ot.' the usual Colored port and starboard lights, eolored supplementary side lights visible through a range including a number of points to port or starboard, respectively, and one or inore white warning or object lights visible lroni dead astern and through a range including a nnn'rber of points to port and sta-rboard ot dead astern, but shielded from view frein all points within the range of the eolored port and starboard lights, all substantiallyv as speeilied.

4. The within described Compound side light, consisting of a single lantern-box having a eolored side lightI and a white warning or objeet light, the latter being visible lfroni dead as rn and troni a number ot points to port or starboarl'l oli' dead astern, but shielded lronl view t'roni all points in the range of the eolored side lights, all snbstantially as speeitied.l

The combination oi' the single lanternbox having a eolorerl side light visible t0 port or starboard, and a white warning or object. light visible from dead astern and lfrom a ninnber of points to port or starboard of dead astern, with fnljustable shields i'or governing the range oli' said colored and ob j eet lights, all substantially as specified.

In testinionyv whereof I h ave sign ed my naine to th is speeiti eat ion in the presenee of two subseribi ng witnesses.

J (')SEPH WARREN COULSTON.

,Vitnesses:

WlLLLmi D. CONNER, HARRY SMITH. 

